Bathing suit



April 26, 1938.

A. L. FL ESH BATHING SUIT Filed Oct- 50, 1957 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 26, 1938 PATENT orrics BATHING SUIT Alfred L. Flesh, Piqua, Ohio, assignor to The Piqua Hosiery Company, Inc., Piqua, Ohio, av

corporation of Ohio Application October 30,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to bathing suits for women and is concerned more particularly with a novel garment of the dressmaker type which affords numerous advantages'over similar garments as made heretofore.

For some time past, womens bathing suits have commonly been made of knitted fabric, and in many respects, such material is highly satisfactory for the purpose. It has a considerable degree of elasticity and adapts itself to the contours of the body so that a personof average figure may readily obtain a knitted suit which ts well even though knitted garments are made and sold commercially in a relatively fewsizes. Such garments are, therefore; of attractive appearance and they are comfortable to wear and do not interfere with the movements of the wearer in the water. Knitted fabrics, however, are somewhat limited as to the patterns which may be knitted in the goods, and are commonly made in plain colors, although suits are frequently made in which different parts are of different colored materials.

More recently, the desire for garments made of fabrics having intricate and elaborate patterns has produced a trend toward the dressmaker style of garment, which is made of relatively inelastic fabrics, such as woven goods, these materials being produced in many different weaves and designs, both woven in the goods and applied thereto by printing. The use of such fabrics, therefore, broadens the range of variations in appearance of arrhents made therefrom and the dressmaker type of suit has, accordingly, achieved considerable popularity.

Dressmaker garments, however, have one important disadvantage as compared to knitted suits in that, because of the relatively inelastic fabric used, the garments do not fit as well as knitted suits, unless they are tailored to individual figures, and for commercial reasons, it has been necessary to cut them relatively loose to allow for some variations in figure size. Because of their looseness, such suits are not so satisfactory as knitted garments for swimming purposes, and unless they fit fairly well, they are likely to expose the body of the wearer to an immodest degree.

The present invention is accordingly directed to the provision of a novel bathing suit which affords the several advantages of the dressmaker type of garment without its disadvantages, and these results are achieved by constructing the new garment of two major parts, which may be referred to as the inner garment and the outer garment.

1937, Serial No. 171,883

The inner garment comprises trunks and a top made of relatively elastic materials, such as knitted goods or woven fabrics made with elastic yarn, such as that sold commercially under the trade name Lastex. The trunks and top are of usual construction and the top is retained in position in any suitable manner as, for example, byshoulder straps or by straps attached to the front at the top and tied together at the back of the neck to form a halter. The outer garment is made of relatively inelastic material, such as woven goods or fine stitch knitted material, and while the outer garment is cut to conform generally to the body of the wearer, it has a relatively loose fit. The outer garment completely conceals the inner garment except for the straps of the latter and it is connected detachably to the garment above the bust of the wearer and depends from thisconnection. It may alsobe provided, if desired, with means by which it may be drawn in snugly at the waist; V

Thematerial of which the'outer garment is made is patterned; and of a decorative appearance, while the trunks and top of the inner garment are of a color harmonizing with the design on the outer garment. The straps of the inner garment, however, are made of the same material or carry the same pattern as the outer garment. Accordingly, when both inner and outer garments are worn, the suit has the typical decorative apa pearance of a dressmaker garment, while for swimming purposes, the outer garment may be removed, whereupon the inner garment affords the advantages of the ordinary knitted suit.

For a better understanding of the invention,

reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1. tea front perspective view of the new garment showing its appearance when worn;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the rear of the garment;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 but with the outer garment removed;

Figures 4 and 5 are front and rear views, respectively of the outer garment; and

Figures 6 and 7 are front and rear views, respectively of the inner garment.

Referring to the drawing, the garment of the invention comprises an outer garment which is made of relatively inelastic material, as above described, andmay be formed in any suitable manner. In the suit shown, the outer garment comprises comprises a skirt ll) of somewhat flaring form and a top ll which is shaped by, gathering and by darts l2 to conform fairly closely to the contours of the figure of the wearer. The outer garment is also provided with a belt l3 lying between the top and skirt, although this belt may be omitted, if desired.

In the garment shown, the upper edge of the top is cut somewhat low, as indicated at M, and on either side of the dip in the upper edge are extensions i5. At the rear, the back of the top is largely cut away and the upper edge of the back dips almost to the waistline. This method of cutting the upper edges of the front and back of thetop of the outer garment is dictatedby considerations of style, and the top may have various other forms.

Preferably the outer garment fits snugly at the waist and for this purpose and to permit ready removal, the upper portion of the skirt is formed with a placket l6 which may be closed by buttons H, the closing of the placket by means of the buttons drawing the garment in at the waistline.-

If desired, belt straps l8 may also be used for the same purpose, and in the construction shown, these straps are securedto the garment at the sides, as by having their ends passed through openings IS in the garment and stitched along the edges of the openings.

The inner garment, illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, comprises trunks 20 and a top 2| made of a suitable elastic material. The trunks are of the usual construction and the top which may 'be lined,,if desired, is cut to conform to the body of the wearer and is given the desired'shape in any suitable way, as by means of darts 22. Any other suitable construction may be employed, however, if desired. The top of the inner garmentshown is cut low at the front, as indicated at 23, and the back of the top is cut considerably lower, as indicated at 24, the shape of the front and back being a matter of choice. Means are provided for maintaining the frontof the top in place against the body of the wearer and for this purpose, straps '25 are secured to the front of the top near its upper edge. These straps may be tied together at the back of the neck to form the usual 7 supporting halter, or, as in thegarment shown, the straps'may'be shoulder straps and of sufficient length to extend over the shoulders and down to, the upper edge of the back of the top to be secured thereto in any convenient manner, as by means of buttons 26 on the back which may be passed through one or the other of the buttonholes 21 in the straps. I

' As previously explained, the outer garment is preferably of a decorative material and it is so cut as to conceal the entire inner garment except for the'straps 25. These straps are, therefore, preferably of the same decorative material as is used in the outer garment so that when the outer garment is in place, all portions of the bathing suit which are visible are ofthe same material.

To support the outer garment in position, it is connected detachably to the inner garment and various types of connection may be employed. In the construction shown, the extensions l5 of the outer garment are provided with buttonholes 28 in which may be received buttons 29 attached to the straps 25 of the inner garment. The buttons 29 are disposed above the bust of the wearer and when the outer garment is attached to the to enter the water she may wear the complete suit I if she wishes, but ordinarily she will remove the outer garment. The inner garment is then most satisfactory for swimming purposes since it clings snugly to the body'of the wearer but yields so as not to interfere with swimming movements, be-

cause it ismade of elastic material.

' The new suit thus aifords the advantages of the dressmaker suit, with respect to decorative appearance, but need not be individually tailored. In addition, it aifords all of the advantages of the ordinary knitted garment with respect to comfort and freedom of movement in the water. 7

I claim: I 1. A composite bathing suit comprising an inner garment and a separable and removable outer garment, said inner garment being of the swimsuit type and comprising trunks and a top porcomprising a'connected skirt portion and a top portion adapted to extend over the bust of the .30 ment beingof relatively inelastic material and wearer, and being of such size as to relatively loosely fit the body, and cooperating fastening means on the inner and outer'garments, above the bust of the wearer, for supporting said outer garment, the relative sizes and cuts of said inner and outer garments being such that the outer garment, when worn, functions to conceal the inner garment, except for the supporting portions thereof.

2. A composite bathing suit, comprising an inner garment and a separable and removable outer garment, said inner garment being of the swimsuit type and comprising trunks and a top portion connected to said trunks and adapted to cover the bust of the wearer, both made of elastic material and adapted to snugly fit the body, and straps secured to the top portion and adapted to support said inner garment in proper position against the body of the wearer, said outer garment being of relatively inelastic material and comprising a connected skirt portion and a top portion adapted to extend over the bust of the wearer, and being of such size as to relatively loosely fit the wearer, cooperating fastening means on the inner and outer garments, above the bust of the wearer, for supporting said outer garment, means for drawing in the outer garment to cause it to fit snugly at the waist, and a placket extending downwardly from the upper edge of the back portion of the outer garment toa point below the waist-line of the wearer, the relative sizes and cuts of said inner and outer garments being such that the outer garment, when Worn, functions to conceal the inner garment except for the supporting portions thereof.

ALFRED L. FLESH. 

